Handheld mobile communication device with moveable display/cover member

ABSTRACT

Handheld mobile communication devices according to the disclosure have a closed position, in which the display member of the device covers at least a portion of the keys of on the keypad member of the device, and an open position, in which the keys are accessible and the device is operated. When the display member is in the open position, it forms an ergonomically desirable angle (e.g., on the order of about 155°) relative to the keypad member. However, unlike clamshell-type cellular phones, the display member does not simply flip open about a conventional pivot joint. Rather, it moves from the closed position, where it is parallel and adjacent to the keypad member, to the open, angled position through a sliding/sweeping motion; through an eccentric, “up-and-over” rotational motion; or through a combination sliding/“up-and-over” motion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/458,453, filed on Jul. 19, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,576, whichapplication is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to handheld mobile communication devices. Moreparticularly, the disclosure relates to handheld mobile communicationdevices of the sort in which a display member moves between a closedposition, in which the display member covers at least some of the inputkeys of the device, and an open position, which exposes additional keys.

BACKGROUND

Handheld mobile communication devices have become well known in the art.In general, these devices now typically include a graphical display(e.g., an LCD screen) and a keypad—typically alphanumeric—by means ofwhich a user enters information into the device. The devices furtheroften include one or more navigation tools such as thumbwheels,trackballs, sensor touchpads, etc. by means of which, in combinationwith keypad entries, the user controls operation of the device. Some ofthe original (and even many current) handheld mobile communicationdevices were made with a “unibody” design, in which the display, keypad,and any navigation tools were attached to a common body member.

However, it is also common for the keypad to reside on one member (“thekeypad member”) and for the display to reside on a second member (“thedisplay member”) that is attached to and movable relative to the firstmember. This configuration allows the display member to be moved betweenan open position, in which additional features of the device are enabledincluding a keypad, and a closed position relative to the keypad member.Typically, the display member covers some or all of the keys on thekeypad member when it is in the closed position, thereby preventingunintentional actuation of the keys on the keypad of the mobilecommunication device.

According to one known configuration of such a two-member construction,the display member overlies the keypad member and slides generallyparallel to the keypad member to expose the keys. Thus, a flat overallconfiguration of the device is maintained. However, while thisarrangement is not necessarily unsatisfactory, many users prefer theergonomics of a device in which the display member is tilted upwardtoward them. An angle of approximately 155° between the keypad memberand the display member, e.g., like that found on many current“clamshell,” flip-open type cellular phones, has been found to be mostdesirable. While this fact, in turn, might suggest the generaldesirability of constructing all handheld mobile communication deviceswith a flip-open type configuration, the connection (hinge) between thedisplay member and the keypad member has, in many cases, proven to be aweak point in the construction of such devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary methods and arrangements conducted and configured according tothe advantageous solutions presented herein are depicted in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a handheld mobilecommunication device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the handheld mobile communication device shownin FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a side view and a perspective view, respectively, ofthe device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but in an open configuration;

FIG. 4 a is an isometric view of a handheld mobile communication deviceincluding a navigation controller assembly comprising cursor keys;

FIG. 4 b is an isometric view of a handheld mobile communication deviceincluding a navigation controller assembly comprising a joystick;

FIG. 4 c is an isometric view of a handheld mobile communication deviceincluding a navigation controller assembly comprising a barrel roller;

FIG. 4 d is an isometric view of a handheld mobile communication deviceincluding a navigation controller assembly comprising a touchpad;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a second embodiment of a handheld mobilecommunication device;

FIG. 6 is a section view of a guide track used in the device illustratedin FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views of the device shown in FIG. 5 in a closedconfiguration and an open configuration, respectively;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of a third embodiment of a mobile handheldcommunication device in a closed configuration and an openconfiguration, respectively;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are side views of a third embodiment of a mobilehandheld communication device in a closed configuration and an openconfiguration, respectively;

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of an auxiliary input in the formof a trackball;

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary QWERTY keyboard layout;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary QWERTZ keyboard layout;

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary AZERTY keyboard layout;

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary Dvorak keyboard layout;

FIG. 18 illustrates a QWERTY keyboard layout paired with a traditionalten-key keyboard;

FIG. 19 illustrates ten digits comprising the numerals 0-9 arranged ason a telephone keypad, including the * and # astride the zero;

FIG. 20 illustrates a numeric phone key arrangement according to the ITUStandard E.161 including both numerals and letters;

FIG. 21 is a front view of an exemplary handheld mobile communicationdevice including a full QWERTY keyboard;

FIG. 22 is a front view of another exemplary handheld mobilecommunication device including a full QWERTY keyboard;

FIG. 23 is a front view of an exemplary handheld mobile communicationdevice including a reduced QWERTY keyboard;

FIG. 24 is a front view of another exemplary handheld mobilecommunication device including a reduced QWERTY keyboard;

FIG. 25 is a front view of still another exemplary handheld mobilecommunication device including a reduced QWERTY keyboard; and

FIG. 26 is a block diagram representing a wireless handheldcommunication device interacting in a communication network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As intimated hereinabove, one of the more important aspects of thehandheld electronic device to which this disclosure is directed is itssize. While some users will grasp the device in both hands, it isintended that a predominance of users will cradle the device in one handin such a manner that input and control over the device can be affectedusing the thumb of the same hand in which the device is held. Thereforethe size of the device must be kept relatively small; of its dimensions,limiting the width of the device is most important with respect toassuring cradleability in a user's hand. Moreover, it is preferred thatthe width of the device be maintained at less than ten centimeters(approximately four inches). Keeping the device within these dimensionallimits provides a hand cradleable unit that users prefer for itsuseability and portability. Limitations with respect to the height(length) of the device are less stringent with importance placed onmaintaining device hand-cradleablability. Therefore, in order to gaingreater size, the device can be advantageously configured so that itsheight is greater than its width, but still remain easily supported andoperated in one hand.

A potential problem is presented by the small size of the device in thatthere is limited exterior surface area for the inclusion of user inputand device output features. This is especially true for the “prime realestate” of the front face of the device where it is most advantageous toinclude a display screen that outputs information to the user and whichis preferably above a keyboard utilized for data entry into the deviceby the user. If the screen is provided below the keyboard, a problemoccurs in being able to see the screen while inputting data. Thereforeit is preferred that the display screen be above the input area, therebysolving the problem by assuring that the hands and fingers do not blockthe view of the screen during data entry periods.

To facilitate textual data entry, an alphabetic keyboard is provided. Inone version, a full alphabetic keyboard is utilized in which there isone key per letter. This is preferred by some users because it can bearranged to resemble a standard keyboard with which they are mostfamiliar. In this regard, the associated letters can be advantageouslyorganized in QWERTY, QWERTZ or AZERTY layouts, among others, therebycapitalizing on certain users' familiarity with these special letterorders. In order to stay within the bounds of a limited front surfacearea, however, each of the keys must be commensurately small when, forexample, twenty-six keys must be provided in the instance of the Englishlanguage. An alternative configuration is to provide a reduced keyboardin which at least some of the keys have more than one letter associatedtherewith. This means that fewer keys can be included which makes itpossible for those fewer keys to each be larger than in the instancewhen a full keyboard is provided on a similarly dimensioned device. Someusers will prefer the solution of the larger keys over the smaller ones,but it is necessary that software or hardware solutions be provided inorder to discriminate which of the several associated letters the userintends based on a particular key actuation; a problem the full keyboardavoids. Preferably, this character discrimination is accomplishedutilizing disambiguation software accommodated within the device. Aswith the other software programs embodied within the device, a memoryand microprocessor are provided within the body of the handheld unit forreceiving, storing, processing, and outputting data during use.Therefore, the problem of needing a textual data input means is solvedby the provision of either a full or reduced alphabetic keyboard on thepresently disclosed handheld electronic device.

Keys, typically of a push-button or push-pad nature, perform well asdata entry devices but present problems to the user when they must alsobe used to affect navigational control over a screen-cursor. In order tosolve this problem the present handheld electronic device preferablyincludes an auxiliary input that acts as a cursor navigational tool andwhich is also exteriorly located upon the front face of the device. Itsfront face location is particularly advantageous because it makes thetool easily thumb-actuable like the keys of the keyboard. A particularlyusable embodiment provides the navigational tool in the form of atrackball which is easily utilized to instruct two-dimensional screencursor movement in substantially any direction, as well as act as anactuator when the ball of the trackball is depressible like a button.The placement of the trackball is preferably above the keyboard andbelow the display screen; here, it avoids interference duringkeyboarding and does not block the user's view of the display screenduring use.

In some configurations, the handheld electronic device may be standalonein that it is not connectable to the “outside world.” One example wouldbe a PDA that stores such things as calendars and contact information,but is not capable of synchronizing or communicating with other devices.In most situations such isolation will be detrimentally viewed in thatat least synchronization is a highly desired characteristic of handhelddevices today. Moreover, the utility of the device is significantlyenhanced when connectable within a system, and particularly whenconnectable on a wireless basis in a system in which both voice and textmessaging are accommodated.

Handheld mobile communication devices, variously configured as describedabove, according to this disclosure have a closed configuration, inwhich the display member of the device covers at least a portion of thekeys on the keypad member of the device, and an open configuration, inwhich the keys are accessible. When the display member is in its openposition, it forms an ergonomically desirable angle that is greater than90° and less than 180° relative to the keypad member, i.e., an angle onthe order of about 100° to about 170°, with about 155° being preferred.However, unlike clamshell-type cellular phones, the display member doesnot simply flip open about a conventional pivot joint. Rather, it movesfrom its closed position, where it is parallel and adjacent to thekeypad member, to its open, angled position in a number of waysincluding: through a sliding/sweeping motion; through an eccentric,“up-and-over” rotational motion; and through a combinationsliding/“up-and-over” motion. With either of these motions, thegraphical display remains exposed to the user.

The ergonomic angle is desirable in many different cases. Where thehandheld mobile communication device is configured as a cellular phonewith an earpiece or earspeaker on the display member and a microphone onthe keypad member, the angle replicates the curvature of a user's jawand allows the device to be held close to the user's head for speakingcomfort. Where, on the other hand, the device is configured as an emailcommunication device, the angle allows the user to hold the device at anangle that is comfortable for the hands and wrists and view the deviceat an angle that is comfortable for the eyes. Many (if not most)handheld mobile communication devices now include both features—phoneand email capabilities—and therefore the benefits for both applicationsapply.

A first embodiment 10 of a handheld mobile communication device isillustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The device 10 includes a display member 12 anda keypad member 14. Display member 12 includes a display 16, e.g., anLCD display, and, in the illustrated embodiment, a navigation tool 18,e.g., a trackball. Keypad member 14, on the other hand, includes analphanumeric keypad 20, which includes keys for each of the letters A-Zof the English alphabet as well as the digits 0-9. The keypad 20 mayinclude the letters on a one-letter-per-key basis or, as illustrated, ona reduced-key basis, as known in the art. Furthermore, the letters arepreferably arranged in a QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, or Dvorak arrangement,as is known in the art, and the digits 0-9 may be arranged in customarytouch-tone telephone keypad format.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 10 includes a linkageassembly 24 that interconnects the display member 12 and keypad member14 and that helps guide the display member 12 between the closedposition (FIGS. 1 and 2) and the open position (FIGS. 3 and 4). Thelinkage assembly 24 is a two-piece member including upper and lower“struts” 26, 28 that are pivotally connected to each other at pivotjoint 30, located approximately at the mid-point of the linkage assembly24. At its opposite end, upper strut 26 is pivotally attached to thedisplay member 12, e.g., by means of a pin coupling 32 at a rear portionof the display member. The lower strut member 28 fits within a slot orpocket (not shown) formed in the keypad member 12, beneath the keypad20, and a pivot pin 34 slidingly couples the lower end of the lowerstrut member 28 to the sidewalls of the slot or pocket. A stop (notillustrated) limits sliding motion of the pivot pin 34 to the right asoriented in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the front end 36 of the display member12 is pivotally and slidingly coupled to the keypad member 14, e.g., bymeans of pins-in-slot sliding coupling.

The configuration of the device 10 allows it to be opened to expose thekeypad 20 with a two-part sliding, sweeping motion, as represented bythe arrow 40 in FIG. 2. In particular, the display member 12 is firstslid to the right (as oriented in FIG. 2), parallel to the keypad member14, until the pivot joint 30 of the linkage assembly 24 clears the endof the slot or pocket. At that point, the display member 12 can start tobe tilted upward, toward the user. In the illustrated embodiment, thelinkage assembly 24 can be extended even further out of the slot orpocket (until the pin 34 reaches the stop), which allows the displaymember 12 to continue moving translationally while at the same timepivoting upwardly. This imparts a sweeping motion to the display member12 during the second part of the opening motion. Alternatively, if theparallel sliding portion of the opening motion is limited to just thatamount of sliding necessary for the pivot joint 30 to clear the slot orpocket, pivoting the display member 12 upward will cause its bottom end36 to slide back toward the user slightly.

Regardless of the precise kinematics, however, the final, openconfiguration of the device 10 preferably has the display member 12tilted upward relative to the keypad member 14 such that there is anincluded angle Θ of about 155° between the display 16 and the keypad 20.While the angle Θ is preferably 155°, the included angle is greater than90° and less than 180°. The display member 12 is then held in thatposition by any of a variety of means. For example, there may be a“divot” in the sidewalls of the slot or pocket into which the pin 34fits. Alternatively, the coupling between the lower end 36 of thedisplay member 12 and the keypad member 14 may provide sufficientfriction for the display member 12 to remain at the desired anglerelative to the keypad member 14. Still further, the linkage assembly 24may be biased toward the open configuration shown in FIG. 2, e.g., bymeans of a small coil spring surrounding the pivot joint 30.

After use, the display member 12 is returned to the closed position(FIG. 2), to again cover the keypad 20, by moving it in the reversedirection.

A similar embodiment 10 a of a handheld mobile device is illustrated inFIGS. 5-8. Components that are the same as in the embodiment 10illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 are labeled the same in FIGS. 5-8. The primarydifference between the embodiments 10 and 10 a is that the linkage“assembly” 24 a in the embodiment 10 a is formed from a single piece offlexible material (e.g., spring steel) which may bias the device towardthe open-device configuration as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Such aconfiguration would automatically hold the device in the openconfiguration and would avoid the need for friction fitment, detents,divots, etc. As reflected by arrow 40 a, the opening and closingkinematics of the device 10 a are generally the same as for the device10.

The pre-curved, single-piece construction of the linkage assembly 24 aallows the device 10 a to be configured for self-closing operation. Inparticular, a retraction mechanism (not illustrated), e.g., a spring,may be provided extending from a connection point 33 on the displaymember 12 to a connection point 35 on the keypad member 14. Byappropriately selecting the relative levels of resiliency of the linkageassembly 24 a and the retraction mechanism (e.g., by appropriatelyselecting relative spring constants), the retraction mechanism can bemade to pull the display member 12 from the open position shown in FIG.8 back to the closed position shown in FIG. 7.

It should be appreciated that, if the device 10 a is so configured forself-closing operation, means to hold the device 10 a in the openconfiguration shown in FIG. 8 needs to be provided. Such means could beas simple as a detent mechanism, e.g., a bump or protrusion (notillustrated) extending laterally outward from the lower end 37 of thedisplay member 12 that drops down into a notch (not illustrated) formedin the keypad member 20 when the display member 12 is slid out to thefully open position. Other means for retaining the device 10 a in theopen configuration will, of course, readily occur to those having skillin the art.

Finally, with respect to the embodiment 10 a, it is preferable to guidethe opening and closing motion of the display member 12 relative to thekeypad member 14. Protrusion 42 (FIG. 6) formed on the side of thedisplay member 12 slides within track 44 formed along the sides of thekeypad member 14.

Another embodiment 100 of a handheld mobile communication device isillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The device 100 has similar basiccomponents as the devices 10 and 10 a, namely, a display member 112 anda keypad member 114, with a display 116 and a keypad 120, respectively.

Unlike the devices 10 and 10 a, however, the device 100 is configuredsuch that the display member 112 moves somewhat eccentricallyrotationally/pivotally into the open position shown in FIG. 10. Inparticular, the device 100 includes rigid front and rear linkage bars150 and 152, respectively. Front linkage bar 150 is pivotally connected(e.g., pinned) to the display member 112 at pin connection 154 at thefront of the display member 112 and to the keypad member 114 at pinconnection 156 at the front of the keypad member. Similarly, rearlinkage bar 152 is pivotally connected (e.g., pinned) to the displaymember 112 at pin connection 158 at a mid-portion (not necessarily theexact center) of the display member 112 and to the keypad member 114 atpin connection 160 at a mid-portion (not necessarily the exact center)of the keypad member 114. The front linkage bar 150 is shorter than therear linkage bar; therefore, the front end of the display member 112pivots relative to the front pin connection 156 with a pivot radius thatis smaller than the pivot radius with which the point at which the rearlinkage bar is connected to the display member 112 pivots relative tothe rear pin connection 160. Accordingly, the front end of the displaymember 112 is able to pivot “up and over” from a first position adjacentto the keypad member 114 (FIG. 9) to a second position adjacent to thekeypad member (FIG. 10) before the mid-portion of the display member 112is able to pivot from being adjacent to the keypad member (FIG. 9) overto another position where it would again be adjacent to the keypadmember 114. Therefore, the parallel relation between the display member112 and the keypad member 114 that exists in the closed position (FIG.9) is not maintained as the display member 112 moves into the openposition (FIG. 10). As a result, the ergonomically desired angle (e.g.,155°) is obtained through the eccentric, “up-and-over” motion of thedisplay member 112 relative to the keypad member 114.

The “up-and-over” motion of the display member 112 is particularlyadvantageous, as it allows the front end of the display member 112 totravel in a path which clears the raised keys of the keypad 120. This,in turn, enables making the keys taller, which is preferred since itallows the user to find and depress the correct key with greaterassurance.

Yet another embodiment 200 of a handheld mobile communication device isillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 in a closed configuration and in an openconfiguration, respectively. The embodiment 200 incorporates kinematicfeatures of both embodiments 10 (10 a) and 100, in a “hybrid” versionthereof.

In particular, like the embodiments described above, the device 200includes a display member 212 and a keypad member 214 with a display 216and a keypad 220, respectively. Like the embodiment 10 and 10 a, thefront end 236 of the display member 212 is pivotally and slidinglycoupled to the keypad member 214. Like the embodiment 100, on the otherhand, the approximate “midpoint” of the display member 212 is coupled tothe keypad member 214 by means of a rigid linkage bar 252, which ispivotally connected to the display member 212 at pin connection 258 andto the keypad member 214 at pin connection 260. With this configuration,the display member 212 is moved to the open position by sliding thefront end 236 of the display member 212, as per the first twoembodiments 10 and 10 a described above, while pivoting the mid portionof the display member 212 up-and-over via the rear linkage bar 252, asper the third embodiment 100 described above.

As depicted in FIG. 26, the handheld communication device 300 transmitsdata to, and receives data from a communication network 319 utilizingradio frequency signals, the details of which are discussed more fullyhereinbelow. Preferably, the data transmitted between the handheldcommunication device 300 and the communication network 319 supportsvoice and textual messaging, though it is contemplated that the methodfor producing audible sound is equally applicable to single modedevices; i.e. voice-only devices and text-only devices.

As may be appreciated from FIG. 4, the handheld mobile communicationdevice 10 comprises a lighted display 16 located above a keyboard 20suitable for accommodating textual input to the handheld mobilecommunication device 10 when in an operable configuration. Preferably,the screen 16 and keyboard 20 are located at the front face of thehandheld mobile communication device 10.

In one embodiment, the keyboard 20 a, 20 b comprises a plurality of keyswith which alphabetic letters are associated on a one letter per keybasis. It is contemplated that the keys may be directly marked withletters, or the letters may be presented adjacent, but clearly inassociation with a particular key. This one-to-one pairing between theletters and keys is depicted in FIGS. 21 and 22 and is described ingreater detail below in association therewith. In order to facilitateuser input, the alphabetic letters are preferably configured in afamiliar QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, or Dvorak layout, each of which is alsodiscussed in greater detail hereinbelow.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4, the keyboard 20 comprises aplurality of keys with which alphabetic letters are also associated, butat least a portion of the individual keys have multiple lettersassociated therewith. This type of configuration is referred to as areduced keyboard (in comparison to the full keyboard describedimmediately above) and can, among others come in QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY,and Dvorak layouts.

As depicted in FIG. 4, the auxiliary user input is a trackball 18.Motion of the trackball 18 is assessed using a plurality of sensors 420,422, 424, 426 that quantify rotational motion of the trackball 18 aboutan intersecting x-axis 412 and an intersecting y-axis 414 of thetrackball (see FIG. 13).

In one embodiment, the plurality of sensors 420, 422 number two. One ofthe two sensors 422 outputs signals indicative of x-component rollingmotion of the trackball 18 relative to the handheld communication device10 and about the intersecting y-axis 414 of the trackball (see therotational arrows about the y-axis in FIG. 13). The other of the twosensors 420 outputs signals indicative of y-component rolling motion ofthe trackball 18 relative to the handheld communication device 10 andabout the intersecting x-axis 414 of the trackball (see the rotationalarrows about the x-axis in FIG. 13). In this configuration, the twosensors 420, 422 are oriented radially about the trackball 18 withapproximately ninety degree spacing therebetween. In one embodiment,each of the sensors is a hall effect sensor located proximate thetrackball.

In another embodiment, the plurality of sensors 420, 422, 424, 426number four. A first pair of opposed sensors 422, 426 outputs signalsindicative of x-component rolling motion of the trackball 18 relative tothe handheld communication device 10 and about the intersecting y-axis424. A second pair of opposed sensors 420, 424 outputs signalsindicative of a y-component rolling motion of the trackball 18 relativeto the handheld communication device 10 and about the intersectingx-axis 412. The four sensors 420, 422, 424, 426 are oriented radiallyabout the trackball 18 with approximately ninety degree spacing betweenconsecutive sensors as depicted in FIG. 13.

Each produced x-direction signal represents a discrete amount ofx-component (incremental x-direction) rolling motion of the trackball 18relative to the handheld communication device 10 while each producedy-direction signal represents a discrete amount of y-component(incremental y-direction) rolling motion of the trackball 18 relative tothe handheld communication device 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined criterion fordiscriminating user indicated x-direction cursor movement isidentification of a threshold number of x-direction signals in apredetermined signal sample. For example, out of a moving-window sampleof 10 consecutive signals, six or more must be x-signals in order to beindicative of desired x-direction cursor movement. Likewise, thepredetermined criterion for discriminating user indicated y-directioncursor movement is identification of a threshold number of y-directionsignals in a predetermined signal sample. The same sampling exampleholds, but applied to y-signals instead of x-signals. In a similarrespect, the predetermined criterion for discriminating user indicateddiagonal cursor movement is identification of a threshold number ofx-direction signals and a threshold number of y-direction signals in apredetermined signal sample. For instance, out of a moving-window sampleof 10 consecutive signals, four or more must be x-signals and four ormore must be y-signals in order to be indicative of desired diagonalcursor movement.

While the navigation tool is described above as a trackball 18, thenavigation tool for the handheld communication device is preferablyselected from the group of trackball 18, 4-way cursor 18 b, joystick 18c, roller barrel 18 d, and touch pad 18 e as shown in FIGS. 4 a-4 d.These devices are also considered auxiliary input devices.

Further aspects of the environments, devices and methods of employmentdescribed hereinabove are expanded upon in the following details. Anexemplary embodiment of the handheld mobile communication device 10 asshown in FIG. 4 is cradleable in the palm of a user's hand. The size ofthe device 10 is such that a user is capable of operating the deviceusing the same hand that is holding the device. In a preferredembodiment, the user is capable of actuating all features of the device10 using the thumb of the cradling hand. The preferred embodiment of thehandheld device 10 features a keyboard 20, which is actuable by thethumb of the hand cradling the device 10. The user may also hold thedevice 10 in such a manner to enable two thumb typing on the device 10.Furthermore, the user may use fingers rather than thumbs to actuate thekeys on the device 10.

The handheld mobile communication device 10 includes an input portionand an output display portion. The output display portion can be adisplay screen 16, such as an LCD or other similar display device.

The input portion includes a plurality of keys that can be of a physicalnature such as actuable buttons or they can be of a software nature,typically constituted by virtual representations of physical keys on adisplay screen (referred to herein as “software keys”). It is alsocontemplated that the user input can be provided as a combination of thetwo types of keys. Each key of the plurality of keys has at least oneactuable action which can be the input of a character, a command or afunction. In this context, “characters” are contemplated to exemplarilyinclude alphabetic letters, language symbols, numbers, punctuation,insignias, icons, pictures, and even a blank space. Input commands andfunctions can include such things as delete, backspace, moving a cursorup, down, left or right, initiating an arithmetic function or command,initiating a command or function specific to an application program orfeature in use, initiating a command or function programmed by the userand other such commands and functions that are well known to thosepersons skilled in the art. Specific keys or other types of inputdevices can be used to navigate through the various applications andfeatures thereof. Further, depending on the application or feature inuse, specific keys can be enabled or disabled.

In the case of physical keys, all or a portion of the plurality of keyshave one or more indicia displayed at their top surface and/or on thesurface of the area adjacent the respective key, the particular indiciarepresenting the character(s), command(s) and/or function(s) typicallyassociated with that key. In the instance where the indicia of a key'sfunction is provided adjacent the key, it is understood that this may bea permanent insignia that is, for instance, printed on the device coverbeside the key, or in the instance of keys located adjacent the displayscreen, a current indicia for the key may be temporarily shown nearbythe key on the screen.

In the case of software keys, the indicia for the respective keys areshown on the display screen, which in one embodiment is enabled bytouching the display screen, for example, with a stylus to generate thecharacter or activate the indicated command or function. Such displayscreens may include one or more touch interfaces, including atouchscreen. A non-exhaustive list of touchscreens includes, forexample, resistive touchscreens, capacitive touchscreens, projectedcapacitive touchscreens, infrared touchscreens and surface acoustic wave(SAW) touchscreens.

Physical and software keys can be combined in many different ways asappreciated by those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, physical andsoftware keys are combined such that the plurality of enabled keys for aparticular application or feature of the handheld mobile communicationdevice is shown on the display screen in the same configuration as thephysical keys. Thus, the desired character, command or function isobtained by depressing the physical key corresponding to the character,command or function displayed at a corresponding position on the displayscreen, rather than touching the display screen. To aid the user,indicia for the characters, commands and/or functions most frequentlyused are preferably positioned on the physical keys and/or on the areaaround or between the physical keys. In this manner, the user can morereadily associate the correct physical key with the character, commandor function displayed on the display screen.

The various characters, commands and functions associated with keyboardtyping in general are traditionally arranged using various conventions.The most common of these in the United States, for instance, is theQWERTY keyboard layout. Others include the QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Dvorakkeyboard configurations of the English-language alphabet.

The QWERTY keyboard layout is the standard English-language alphabetickey arrangement 444 (see FIG. 14). In this configuration, Q, W, E, R, Tand Y are the letters on the top left, alphabetic row. It was designedby Christopher Sholes, who invented the typewriter. The keyboard layoutwas organized by him to prevent people from typing too fast and jammingthe keys. The QWERTY layout was included in the drawing for Sholes'patent application in 1878, U.S. Pat. No. 207,559.

The QWERTZ keyboard layout is normally used in German-speaking regions.This alphabetic key arrangement 444 is shown in FIG. 15. In thisconfiguration, Q, W, E, R, T and Z are the letters on the top left,alphabetic row. It differs from the QWERTY keyboard layout by exchangingthe “Y” with a “Z”. This is because “Z” is a much more common letterthan “Y” in German and the letters “T” and “Z” often appear next to eachother in the German language.

The AZERTY keyboard layout is normally used in French-speaking regions.This alphabetic key arrangement 444 is shown in FIG. 16. In thisconfiguration, A, Z, E, R, T and Y are the letters on the top left,alphabetic row. It is similar to the QWERTY layout, except that theletters Q and A are swapped, the letters Z and W are swapped, and theletter M is in the middle row instead of the bottom one.

The Dvorak keyboard layout was designed in the 1930s by August Dvorakand William Dealey. This alphabetic key arrangement 444 is shown in FIG.17. It was developed to allow a typist to type faster. About 70% ofwords are typed on the home row compared to about 32% with a QWERTYkeyboard layout, and more words are typed using both hands. It is saidthat in eight hours, fingers of a QWERTY typist travel about 16 miles,but only about 1 mile for the Dvorak typist.

Alphabetic key arrangements in full keyboards and typewriters are oftenpresented along with numeric key arrangements. An exemplary numeric keyarrangement is shown in FIGS. 14-17 where the numbers 1-9 and 0 arepositioned above the alphabetic keys. In another numeric keyarrangement, numbers share keys with the alphabetic characters, such asthe top row of the QWERTY keyboard. Yet another exemplary numeric keyarrangement is shown in FIG. 18, where a numeric keypad 446 is spacedfrom the alphabetic/numeric key arrangement. The numeric keypad 446includes the numbers “7”, “8”, “9” arranged in a top row, “4”, “5”, “6”arranged in a second row, “1”, “2”, “3” arranged in a third row, and “0”in a bottom row, consistent with what may be found on a “ten-key”computer keyboard keypad. Additionally, a numeric phone key arrangement442 is shown in FIG. 19.

As shown in FIG. 19, the numeric phone key arrangement 442 may alsoutilize a surface treatment on the surface of the center “5” key. Thissurface treatment is such that the surface of the key is distinctivefrom the surface of other keys. Preferably the surface treatment is inthe form of a raised bump or recessed dimple 443. This bump or dimple443 is typically standard on telephones and is used to identify the “5”key through touch alone. Once the user has identified the “5” key, it ispossible to identify the remainder of the phone keys through touch alonebecause of their standard placement. The bump or dimple 443 preferablyhas a shape and size that is readily evident to a user through touch. Anexample bump or dimple 443 may be round, rectangular, or have anothershape if desired. Alternatively, raised bumps may be positioned on thehousing around the “5” key and do not necessarily have to be positioneddirectly on the key.

It is desirable for handheld mobile communication devices to include acombined text-entry keyboard and a telephony keyboard. Examples of suchmobile communication devices include mobile stations, cellulartelephones, wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), two-way pagingdevices, and others. Various keyboards are used with such devicesdepending in part on the physical size of the handheld mobilecommunication device. Some of these are termed full keyboard, reducedkeyboard, and phone key pads.

In embodiments of a handheld mobile communication device having a fullkeyboard, only one alphabetic character is associated with each one of aplurality of physical keys. Thus, with an English-language keyboard,there are at least 26 keys in the plurality, one for each letter of theEnglish alphabet. In such embodiments using the English-languagealphabet, one of the keyboard layouts described above is usuallyemployed, and with the QWERTY keyboard layout being the most common.

One device 10 that uses a full keyboard for alphabetic characters andincorporates a combined numeric keyboard is shown in FIG. 21. In thisdevice 10, numeric characters share keys with alphabetic characters onthe top row of the QWERTY keyboard. Another device 10 that incorporatesa combined alphabetic/numeric keyboard is shown in FIG. 22. This device10 utilizes numeric characters in a numeric phone key arrangementconsistent with the ITU Standard E.161, as shown in FIG. 19. The numericcharacters share keys with alphabetic characters on the left side of thekeyboard.

In order to further reduce the size of a handheld mobile communicationdevice without making the physical keys or software keys too small, somehandheld mobile communication devices use a reduced keyboard, where morethan one character/command/function is associated with each of at leasta portion of the plurality of keys. This results in certain keys beingambiguous since more than one character is represented by or associatedwith the key, even though only one of those characters is typicallyintended by the user when activating the key.

Thus, certain software usually runs on the processor of these types ofhandheld mobile communication devices to determine or predict whatletter or word has been intended by the user. Predictive texttechnologies can also automatically correct common spelling errors.Predictive text methodologies often include a disambiguation engineand/or a predictive editor application. This helps facilitate easyspelling and composition, since the software is preferably intuitivesoftware with a large word list and the ability to increase that listbased on the frequency of word usage. The software preferably also hasthe ability to recognize character letter sequences that are common tothe particular language, such as, in the case of English, words endingin “ing.” Such systems can also “learn” the typing style of the usermaking note of frequently used words to increase the predictive aspectof the software. With predictive editor applications, the display of thedevice depicts possible character sequences corresponding to thekeystrokes that were entered. Typically, the most commonly used word isdisplayed first. The user may select other, less common words manually,or otherwise. Other types of predictive text computer programs may beutilized with the keyboard arrangement and keyboard described herein,without limitation.

The multi-tap method of character selection has been in use a number ofyears for permitting users to enter text using a touch screen device ora conventional telephone key pad such as specified under ITU E 1.161,among other devices. Multi-tap requires a user to press a key a varyingnumber of times, generally within a limited period of time, to input aspecific letter, thereby spelling the desired words of the message. Arelated method is the long tap method, where a user depresses the keyuntil the desired character appears on the display out of a rotatingseries of letters.

A “text on nine keys” type system uses predictive letter patterns toallow a user to ideally press each key representing a letter only onceto enter text. Unlike multi-tap which requires a user to indicate adesired character by a precise number of presses of a key, orkeystrokes, the “test on nine keys” system uses a predictive textdictionary and established letter patterns for a language tointelligently guess which one of many characters represented by a keythat the user intended to enter. The predictive text dictionary isprimarily a list of words, acronyms, abbreviations and the like that canbe used in the composition of text.

Generally, all possible character string permutations represented by anumber of keystrokes entered by a user are compared to the words in thepredictive text dictionary and a subset of the permutations is shown tothe user to allow selection of the intended character string. Thepermutations are generally sorted by likelihood of occurrence which isdetermined from the number of words matched in the predictive textdictionary and various metrics maintained for these words. Where thepossible character string permutations do not match any words in thepredictive text dictionary, the set of established letter patterns for aselected language can be applied to suggest the most likely characterstring permutations, and then require the user to input a number ofadditional keystrokes in order to enter the desired word.

The keys of reduced keyboards are laid out with various arrangements ofcharacters, commands and functions associated therewith. In regards toalphabetic characters, the different keyboard layouts identified aboveare selectively used based on a user's preference and familiarity; forexample, the QWERTY keyboard layout is most often used by Englishspeakers who have become accustomed to the key arrangement.

FIG. 23 shows a handheld mobile communication device 10 that carries anexample of a reduced keyboard using the QWERTY keyboard layout on aphysical keyboard array of twenty keys comprising five columns and fourrows. Fourteen keys are used for alphabetic characters and ten keys areused for numbers. Nine of the ten numbers share a key with alphabeticcharacters. The “space” key and the number “0” share the same key, whichis centered on the device and centered below the remainder of thenumbers on the keyboard 20 c. The four rows include a first row 450, asecond row 452, a third row 454, and a fourth row 456. The five columnsinclude a first column 460, a second column 462, a third column 464, afourth column 466, and a fifth column 468. Each of the keys in the firstrow 450, second row 452, and third row 454 is uniformly sized while thekeys in the fourth, bottom row 456 have different sizes relative to oneanother and to the keys in the first three rows 450, 452, 454. The rowsand columns are straight, although the keys in the fourth row 456 do notalign completely with the columns because of their differing sizes. Thecolumns substantially align with the longitudinal axis x-x of the device10.

FIG. 24 shows a handheld mobile communication device 10 that has anexample physical keyboard array of twenty keys, with five columns andfour rows. Fourteen keys on the keyboard 20 d are associated withalphabetic characters and ten keys are associated with numbers. The fourrows include a first row 450, a second row 452, a third row 454, and afourth row 456. The five columns include a first column 460, a secondcolumn 462, a third column 464, a fourth column 466, and a fifth column468. Many of the keys have different sizes than the other keys, and therows are non-linear. In particular, the rows are V-shaped, with themiddle key in the third column 464 representing the point of the V. Thecolumns are generally straight, but the outer two columns 460, 462, 466,468 angle inwardly toward the middle column 464. To readily identify thephone user interface (the second user interface), the numeric phone keys0-9 include a color scheme that is different from that of the remainingkeys associated with the QWERTY key arrangement.

In this example, the color scheme of the numeric phone keys has a twotone appearance, with the upper portion of the numeric keys being afirst color and the lower portion of the numeric keys being a secondcolor. In the example, the upper portion of the keys is white with blueletters and the lower portion of the keys is blue with white letters.Most of the remaining keys associated with the QWERTY key arrangementare predominantly the second, blue color with white lettering. The firstcolor may be lighter than the second color, or darker than the secondcolor. In addition, the keyboard 20 d includes a “send” key 6 and an“end” key 8. The “send” key 6 is positioned in the upper left corner ofthe keyboard 20 d and the “end” key 8 is positioned in the upper rightcorner. The “send” key 6 and “end” key 8 may have different colorschemes than the remainder of the keys in order to distinguish them fromother keys. In addition, the “send” and “end” keys 6, 8 may havedifferent colors from one another. In the example shown, the “send” key6 is green and the “end” key 8 is red. Different colors may be utilized,if desired.

FIG. 25 shows a similar format for the reduced QWERTY arrangement ofalphabetic characters 444 as presented in FIG. 23, but the numeric phonekey arrangement is positioned in the first 460, second 462, and third464 columns instead of being centered on the keyboard 20 c. The firstrow 450 of keys includes in order the following key combinations for thetext entry and telephony mode: “QW/1”, “ER/2”, “TY/3”, “UI”, and “OP”.The second row 452 includes the following key combinations in order:“AS/4”, “DF/5”, “GH/6”, “JK/,”, and “L/.”. The third row 454 includesthe following key combinations in order: “ZX/7”, “CV/8”, “BN/9”, “M/sym”and “backspace/delete”. The fourth row 456 includes the following keycombinations in order: “next/*”, “space/0”, “shift/#”, “alt” and“return/enter”. The keys in each of the rows are of uniform size and therows and columns are straight.

Another embodiment of a reduced alphabetic keyboard is found on astandard phone keypad. Most handheld mobile communication devices havinga phone key pad also typically include alphabetic key arrangementsoverlaying or coinciding with the numeric keys as shown in FIG. 20. Suchalphanumeric phone keypads are used in many, if not most, traditionalhandheld telephony mobile communication devices such as cellularhandsets.

As described above, the International Telecommunications Union (“ITU”)has established phone standards for the arrangement of alphanumerickeys. The standard phone numeric key arrangement shown in FIGS. 19 (noalphabetic letters) and 20 (with alphabetic letters) corresponds to ITUStandard E.161, entitled “Arrangement of Digits, Letters, and Symbols onTelephones and Other Devices That Can Be Used for Gaining Access to aTelephone Network.” This standard is also known as ANSI TI.703-1995/1999and ISO/IEC 9995-8:1994. Regarding the numeric arrangement, it can beaptly described as a top-to-bottom ascending orderthree-by-three-over-zero pattern.

The table below identifies the alphabetic characters associated witheach number for some other phone keypad conventions.

Mobile Phone Keypad Number ITU #11 #111 on Key E.161 Australia #1(Europe) (Europe) 1 QZ ABC ABC 2 ABC ABC ABC DBF DBF 3 DBF DBF DBF GHIGHI 4 GHI GHI GHI JKL JKL 5 JKL JKL JKL MNO MNO 6 MNO MNO MN PQR PQR 7PQRS PRS PRS STU STU 8 TUV TUV TUV

VW VWX 9 WXYZ WXY WXY XYZ YZ 0 OQZ

It should also be appreciated that other alphabetic character and numbercombinations can be used beyond those identified above when deemeduseful to a particular application.

As noted earlier, multi-tap software has been in use for a number ofyears permitting users to enter text using a conventional telephone keypad such as specified under ITU E 1.161 or on a touch screen display,among other devices. Multi-tap requires a user to press a key a varyingnumber of times, generally within a limited period of time, to input aspecific letter associated with the particular key, thereby spelling thedesired words of the message. A related method is the long tap method,where a user depresses the key until the desired character appears onthe display.

The block diagram of FIG. 26, representing the communication device 300interacting in the communication network 319, shows the device's 300inclusion of a microprocessor 338 which controls the operation of thedevice 300. The communication subsystem 311 performs all communicationtransmission and reception with the wireless network 319. Themicroprocessor 338 further connects with an auxiliary input/output (I/O)subsystem 328, a serial port (preferably a Universal Serial Bus port)330, a display 322, a keyboard 332, a speaker 334, a microphone 336,random access memory (RAM) 326, and flash memory 324. Othercommunications subsystems 340 and other device subsystems 342 aregenerally indicated as connected to the microprocessor 338 as well. Anexample of a communication subsystem 340 is that of a short rangecommunication subsystem such as BLUETOOTH® communication module or aninfrared device and associated circuits and components. Additionally,the microprocessor 338 is able to perform operating system functions andpreferably enables execution of software applications on thecommunication device 300.

The above described auxiliary I/O subsystem 328 can take a variety ofdifferent subsystems including the above described navigation tool 328.As previously mentioned, the navigation tool 328 is preferably atrackball based device, but it can be any one of the other abovedescribed tools. Other auxiliary I/O devices can include externaldisplay devices and externally connected keyboards (not shown). Whilethe above examples have been provided in relation to the auxiliary I/Osubsystem, other subsystems capable of providing input or receivingoutput from the handheld mobile communication device 300 are consideredwithin the scope of this disclosure.

In a preferred embodiment, the communication device 300 is designed towirelessly connect with a communication network 319. Some communicationnetworks that the communication device 300 may be designed to operate onrequire a subscriber identity module (SIM) or removable user identitymodule (RUIM). Thus, a device 300 intended to operate on such a systemwill include SIM/RUIM interface 344 into which the SIM/RUIM card (notshown) may be placed. The SIM/RUIM interface 344 can be one in which theSIM/RUIM card is inserted and ejected.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flash memory 324 is enabled to provide astorage location for the operating system, device programs, and data.While the operating system in a preferred embodiment is stored in flashmemory 324, the operating system in other embodiments is stored inread-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). As thoseskilled in the art will appreciate, the operating system, deviceapplication or parts thereof may be loaded in RAM 326 or other volatilememory.

In a preferred embodiment, the flash memory 324 containsprograms/applications 358 for execution on the device 300 including anaddress book 352, a personal information manager (PIM) 354, and thedevice state 350. Furthermore, programs 358 and other information 356can be segregated upon storage in the flash memory 324 of the device300. However, another embodiment of the flash memory 324 utilizes astorage allocation method such that a program 358 is allocatedadditional space in order to store data associated with such program.Other known allocation methods exist in the art and those personsskilled in the art will appreciate additional ways to allocate thememory of the device 300.

In a preferred embodiment, the device 300 is pre-loaded with a limitedset of programs that enable it to operate on the communication network319. Another program that can be preloaded is a PIM 354 application thathas the ability to organize and manage data items including but notlimited to email, calendar events, voice messages, appointments and taskitems. In order to operate efficiently, memory 324 is allocated for useby the PIM 354 for the storage of associated data. In a preferredembodiment, the information that PIM 354 manages is seamlesslyintegrated, synchronized and updated through the communication network319 with a user's corresponding information on a remote computer (notshown). The synchronization, in another embodiment, can also beperformed through the serial port 330 or other short range communicationsubsystem 340. Other applications may be installed through connectionwith the wireless network 319, serial port 330 or via other short rangecommunication subsystems 340.

When the device 300 is enabled for two-way communication within thewireless communication network 319, it can send and receive signals froma mobile communication service. Examples of communication systemsenabled for two-way communication include, but are not limited to, theMOBITEX mobile communication system, DATATAC mobile communicationsystem, the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network, the UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service) network, the EDGE (EnhancedData for Global Evolution) network, and the CDMA (Code Division MultipleAccess) network and those networks generally described aspacket-switched, narrowband, data-only technologies mainly used forshort burst wireless data transfer.

For the systems listed above, the communication device 300 must beproperly enabled to transmit and receive signals from the communicationnetwork 319. Other systems may not require such identifying information.A GPRS, UMTS, and EDGE require the use of a SIM (Subscriber IdentityModule) in order to allow communication with the communication network319. Likewise, most CDMA systems require the use of a RUIM (RemovableIdentity Module) in order to communicate with the CDMA network. The RUIMand SIM card can be used in multiple different communication devices300. The communication device 300 may be able to operate some featureswithout a SIM/RUIM card, but it will not be able to communicate with thenetwork 319. In some locations, the communication device 300 will beenabled to work with special services, such as “911” emergency, withouta SIM/RUIM or with a non-functioning SIM/RUIM card. A SIM/RUIM interface344 located within the device allows for removal or insertion of aSIM/RUIM card (not shown). This interface 344 can be configured likethat of a disk drive or a PCMCIA slot or other known attachmentmechanism in the art. The SIM/RUIM card features memory and holds keyconfigurations 351, and other information 353 such as identification andsubscriber related information. Furthermore, a SIM/RUIM card can beenabled to store information about the user including identification,carrier and address book information. With a properly enabledcommunication device 300, two-way communication between thecommunication device 300 and communication network 319 is possible.

If the communication device 300 is enabled as described above or thecommunication network 319 does not require such enablement, the two-waycommunication enabled device 300 is able to both transmit and receiveinformation from the communication network 319. The transfer ofcommunication can be from the device 300 or to the device 300. In orderto communicate with the communication network 319, the device 300 in apreferred embodiment is equipped with an integral or internal antenna318 for transmitting signals to the communication network 319. Likewisethe communication device 300 in the preferred embodiment is equippedwith another antenna 316 for receiving communication from thecommunication network 319. These antennae 316, 318 in another preferredembodiment are combined into a single antenna (not shown). As oneskilled in the art would appreciate, the antenna or antennae 316, 318 inanother embodiment are externally mounted on the device 300.

When equipped for two-way communication, the communication device 300features a communication subsystem 311. As is well known in the art,this communication subsystem 311 is modified so that it can support theoperational needs of the device 300. The subsystem 311 includes atransmitter 314 and receiver 312 including the associated antenna orantennae 316, 318 as described above, local oscillators (LOs) 313, and aprocessing module 320 which in a preferred embodiment is a digitalsignal processor (DSP) 320.

A signal received by the communication device 300 is first received bythe antenna 316 and then input into a receiver 312, which in a preferredembodiment is capable of performing common receiver functions includingsignal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channelselection and the like, and analog to digital (A/D) conversion. The A/Dconversion allows the DSP 320 to perform more complex communicationfunctions such as demodulation and decoding on the signals that arereceived by DSP 320 from the receiver 312. The DSP 320 is also capableof issuing control commands to the receiver 312. An example of a controlcommand that the DSP 320 is capable of sending to the receiver 312 isgain control, which is implemented in automatic gain control algorithmsimplemented in the DSP 320. Likewise, the communication device 300 iscapable of transmitting signals to the communication network 319. TheDSP 320 communicates the signals to be sent to the transmitter 314 andfurther communicates control functions, such as the above described gaincontrol. The signal is emitted by the device 300 through an antenna 318connected to the transmitter 314.

It is contemplated that communication by the device 300 with thewireless network 319 can be any type of communication that both thewireless network 319 and device 300 are enabled to transmit, receive andprocess. In general, these can be classified as voice and data. Voicecommunication is communication in which signals for audible sounds aretransmitted by the device 300 through the communication network 319.Data is all other types of communication that the device 300 is capableof performing within the constraints of the wireless network 319.

In the instance of voice communications, voice transmissions thatoriginate from the communication device 300 enter the device 300 thougha microphone 336. The microphone 336 communicates the signals to themicroprocessor 338 for further conditioning and processing. Themicroprocessor 338 sends the signals to the DSP 320 which controls thetransmitter 314 and provides the correct signals to the transmitter 314.Then, the transmitter 314 sends the signals to the antenna 318, whichemits the signals to be detected by a communication network 319.Likewise, when the receiver 312 obtains a signal from the receivingantenna 316 that is a voice signal, it is transmitted to the DSP 320which further sends the signal to the microprocessor 338. Then, themicroprocessor 338 provides a signal to the speaker 334 of the device300 and the user can hear the voice communication that has beenreceived. The device 300 in a preferred embodiment is enabled to allowfor full duplex voice transmission.

In another embodiment, the voice transmission may be received by thecommunication device 300 and translated as text to be shown on thedisplay screen 322 of the communication device 300. The communicationdevice 300 is also capable of retrieving messages from a voice messagingservice operated by the communication network operator. In a preferredembodiment, the device 300 displays information in relation to the voicemessage, such as the number of voice messages or an indication that anew voice message is present on the operating system.

In a preferred embodiment, the display 322 of the communication device300 provides an indication about the identity of an incoming call,duration of the voice communication, telephone number of thecommunication device, call history, and other related information. Itshould be appreciated that the above described embodiments are given asexamples only and one skilled in the art may effect alterations,modifications and variations to the particular embodiments withoutdeparting from the scope of the application.

As stated above, the communication device 300 and communication network319 can be enabled to transmit, receive and process data. Severaldifferent types of data exist and some of these types of data will bedescribed in further detail. One type of data communication that occursover the communication network 319 includes electronic mail (email)messages. Typically an email is text based, but can also include othertypes of data such as picture files, attachments and html. While theseare given as examples, other types of messages are considered within thescope of this disclosure as well.

When the email originates from a source outside of the device and iscommunicated to the device 300, it is first received by the receivingantenna 316 and then transmitted to the receiver 312. From the receiver312, the email message is further processed by the DSP 320, and it thenreaches the microprocessor 338. The microprocessor 338 executesinstructions as indicated from the relevant programming instructions todisplay, store or process the email message as directed by the program.In a similar manner, once an email message has been properly processedby the microprocessor 338 for transmission to the communication network319, it is first sent to the DSP 320, which further transmits the emailmessage to the transmitter 314. The transmitter 314 processes the emailmessage and transmits it to the transmission antenna 318, whichbroadcasts a signal to be received by a communication network 319. Whilethe above has been described generally, those skilled in this art willappreciate those modifications which are necessary to enable thecommunication device 300 to properly transmit the email message over agiven communication network 319.

Furthermore, the email message may instead be transmitted from thedevice 300 via a serial port 330, another communication port 340, orother wireless communication ports 340. The user of the device 300 cangenerate a message to be sent using the keyboard 332 and/or auxiliaryI/O 328, and the associated application to generate the email message.Once the email message is generated, the user may execute a send commandwhich directs the email message from the communication device 300 to thecommunication network 319. In an exemplary embodiment, a keyboard 332,preferably an alphanumeric keyboard, is used to compose the emailmessage. In a preferred embodiment, an auxiliary I/O device 328 is usedin addition to the keyboard 332.

While the above has been described in relation to email messages, oneskilled in the art could easily modify the procedure to function withother types of data such as SMS text messages, internet websites,videos, instant messages, programs and ringtones. Once the data isreceived by the microprocessor 338, the data is placed appropriatelywithin the operating system of the device 300. This might involvepresenting a message on the display 322 which indicates the data hasbeen received or storing it in the appropriate memory 324 on the device300. For example, a downloaded application such as a game will be placedinto a suitable place in the flash memory 324 of the device 300. Theoperating system of the device 300 will also allow for appropriateaccess to the new application as downloaded.

Exemplary embodiments have been described hereinabove regarding handheldmobile communication devices 300 and wireless handheld communicationdevices 300 as well as the communication networks within which theycooperate. It should be appreciated, however, that a focus of thepresent disclosure is the enablement of a handheld mobile communicationdevice with moveable display/cover member.

1. A handheld mobile communication device comprising: a keypad membercomprising a plurality of keys by which a user interacts with thedevice; a display member having a graphical display; a linkage mechanismconfigured to couple the display member to the keypad member and toallow the display member to move between a closed position and an openposition, a first end of the linkage mechanism being pivotally connectedto the display member at at least one of a longitudinally mid portion ora longitudinally rear portion of the display member and an opposite,second end of the linkage mechanism being coupled to the keypad member;and a coupling physically separate and distinct from the linkagemechanism, the coupling extending between a front portion of the displaymember and a front portion of the keypad member, the coupling configuredto pivotally and slidingly couple the display member to the keypadmember such that the portion of the display member slides only in adirection substantially parallel relative to the keypad member; whereinthe closed position comprises the display member disposed substantiallyparallel and adjacent to the keypad member and covering at least aportion of the plurality of keys and wherein the open position comprisesthe display member disposed at an angle that is greater than 100° andless than 170° relative to the keypad member and exposing to the userthe plurality of keys, and wherein the graphical display is exposed tothe user when the display member is in either of the closed position andthe open position.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkagemechanism comprises a two-piece member including an upper and a lowerstrut that are pivotally interconnected at a pivot joint existingbetween the first end and the second end of the linkage mechanism. 3.The device of claim 2, wherein the lower strut is slidingly coupled tothe keypad member such that at least the lower strut slides within atleast one of a slot or a pocket, the at least one of a slot or a pocketformed in the keypad member.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the atleast one of a slot or a pocket further comprises a divot into which atleast a portion of the lower strut fits to maintain the angle of theopen position relative to the keypad member.
 5. The device of claim 1,wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a single, pre-curved member. 6.The device of claim 5, wherein a lower end of the pre-curved member isslidingly coupled to the keypad member such that the pre-curved memberslides within at least one of a slot or a pocket, the at least one of aslot or a pocket in the keypad member.
 7. The device of claim 6, whereinthe at least one of a slot or a pocket further comprises a divot intowhich at least a portion of the linkage mechanism fits to maintain theangle of the open position relative to the keypad member.
 8. The deviceof claim 5, wherein the linkage mechanism biases the display membertoward the open position.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising abiasing member that biases the display member toward the closedposition.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanismcomprises a linkage bar pivotally connected at the first end thereof tothe longitudinally mid-portion of the display member and pivotallyconnected at the second end thereof to the keypad member.
 11. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the display member moves from the closed position tothe open position by sliding translationally parallel to the keypadmember and pivoting relative to the keypad member.
 12. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the display member moves translationally relative tothe keypad member while pivoting relative to the keypad member.
 13. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein angle is about 155°.
 14. The device of claim1, wherein the device is at least a cellular telephone having an earspeaker and a microphone and wherein the angle is formed between the earspeaker and the microphone.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein thedevice is at least an email communication device.
 16. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the device operates at least as both a cellular phoneand an email communications device.
 17. The device of claim 1, whereinthe coupling is further configured to provide sufficient friction forthe display member to maintain the angle of the open position relativeto the keypad member.
 18. A method of providing a handheld communicationdevice comprising: providing a keypad member comprising a plurality ofkeys; providing a display member having a graphical display; providing alinkage mechanism configured to couple the display member to the keypadmember and to allow the display member to move between a closed positionand an open position, a first end of the linkage mechanism beingpivotally connected to the display member at at least one of alongitudinally mid portion or a longitudinally rear portion of thedisplay member and an opposite, second end of the linkage mechanismbeing coupled to the keypad member; and providing a coupling physicallyseparate and distinct from the linkage mechanism, the coupling extendingbetween a front portion of the display member and a front portion of thekeypad member, the coupling configured to pivotally and slidingly couplethe display member to the keypad member such that the front portion ofthe display member slides only in a direction substantially parallelrelative to the keypad member; wherein the closed position comprises thedisplay member disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to thekeypad member and covering at least a portion of the plurality of keysand wherein the open position comprises the display member disposed atan angle that is greater than 100° and less than 170° relative to thekeypad member and exposing the plurality of keys, and wherein thegraphical display is exposed to the user when the display member is ineither of the closed position and the open position.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein providing the linkage mechanism further comprisesproviding the linkage mechanism wherein the linkage mechanism comprisesa two-piece member including an upper and a lower strut that arepivotally interconnected at a pivot joint existing between the first endand the second end of the linkage mechanism, and wherein the lower strutis slidingly coupled to the keypad member such that at least the lowerstrut slides within at least one of a slot or a pocket in the keypadmember.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the linkagemechanism further comprises providing the linkage mechanism wherein thelinkage mechanism comprises a single, pre-curved member, and wherein alower end of the pre-curved member is slidingly coupled to the keypadmember such that the pre-curved member slides within at least one of aslot or a pocket in the keypad member.
 21. The method of claim 18,wherein providing the linkage mechanism further comprises providing thelinkage mechanism wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a linkage barpivotally connected at the first end thereof to the longitudinallymid-portion of the display member and pivotally connected at the secondend thereof to the keypad member.